With point guard De’Aaron Fox setting a blistering pace, Kentucky is averaging more offensive possessions a game (79.5) than all but five teams in men’s NCAA Division I basketball. Mark Cornelisonmcornelison@herald-leader.com

With point guard De’Aaron Fox setting a blistering pace, Kentucky is averaging more offensive possessions a game (79.5) than all but five teams in men’s NCAA Division I basketball. Mark Cornelisonmcornelison@herald-leader.com

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For my money, the current Wildcats (13-2, 3-0 SEC) have produced easily the most entertaining half season of Kentucky basketball of the 21st century.

What very much remains to be proven is whether UK has the fortitude and capabilities to win against good teams that can slow the Cats’ roll. That’s why the best thing that could happen for Kentucky’s NCAA title hopes would be for the Cats’ remaining eight SEC road games to turn into all-out stress tests for the Wildcats.

Needing therefore to do the little things to win, Kentucky instead seemed rushed in its half-court offense, missed 10 of 29 foul shots and gave up several crucial follow-shot baskets while being outscored 11-4 in second-chance points.

Conversely, UK’s first SEC away contest, at Mississippi Dec. 29, didn’t prove to be much of a test because the Rebels played at Kentucky’s pace with less talent and got drubbed 99-76.

Given the abundant mediocrity of SEC basketball, it’s hard to envision UK losing an SEC game in Rupp Arena this winter.

So other than the much anticipated visit to Lexington by Big 12 kingpin Kansas on Jan. 28, any chances for Kentucky to show that it can win games from outside its comfort zone are going to have to come on the SEC road.

Where could those tests come?

On paper, clearly the toughest SEC road trip for UK will be the Feb. 4 visit to Florida (12-3, 3-0 SEC). Coach Mike White’s Gators were ranked No. 3 in both the NCAA’s official RPI and the realtimerpi.com rankings.

Teams that win NCAA championships oft do so by showing they can win in multiple ways at differing paces.

The Anthony Davis-led 2012 UK NCAA champs were versatile enough to outscore Indiana 102-90 when the Hoosiers tried to speed up the Cats’ tempo in the NCAA round of 16 but also to grind it out and take down Louisville (69-61) and Kansas (67-59) in the Final Four and championship game, respectively.

For the national title aspirations of the 2016-17 Cats, the best thing that can happen is for forthcoming SEC road games to force Kentucky to find new and varied ways to win.